Chapter 3: Reality
Elena’s P.O.V:
I came out of the washroom to find Risa Alum waiting for me with a bottle of cool sparkling water and my medicines.
“How mad is the boss?” I asked, accepting the pill and chugging it down with half of the water. I’d had to run to the restroom as soon as I’d finished my first turn on the runway.
“About 40 percent.” She furrowed her brows, red hair pulled up in a tight knot at the top of her head and a black robe pulled over the royal blue bikini she’d been given encrusted with white gems. “But he’s also 60 percent worried about you.”
“Great.” I groaned, leaning against the closed bathroom door, still in my red lingerie sans the robe.
I’d known the CEO of SunKissed, Robert Hugh since I’d first decided to join the modeling industry. He’d given me my first ever gig and from then on he’d been guiding me through my short career, giving me tips on how to stay out of the limelight but still do plenty of great shows. He’d even helped me avoid all the dangerous predators that roam the industry in search of naïve little girls who get easily absorbed in the glitter and pomp of the industry. Robert had been that father figure when I’d missed mine terribly and even now, I knew he’d always have my back no matter what happened.
“Come on, let’s get dressed and get out of here.” Risa guided me through the hallways and led me safely to the green room where almost everyone was done dressing up and were now enjoying the feast that had been prepared for us backstage.
Risa and I dressed quickly, her in jeans and a pink sweater and me in a long sleeved black dress that reached my knees and had a jacket to go over it. We were nearly done when a knock sounded from the front door and Robert came in after we’d called out our agreement.
“Hello girls, lovely show today.” He told us as he entered and gave Risa a hug. “Why don’t you go ahead and enjoy the banquet while Elain and I have a little chat?”
Risa was already done getting ready but she still locked eyes with me to make sure I was alright or not. But when I gave her a small nod and a smile, she smiled back at me and left the room.
Robert came over to me and helped me zip up the dress and don the jacket. He was in his late 40’s with salt and pepper hair that he wanted to turn white naturally and an average built. He was tall though, almost six feet five, but he had a kind heart under that strict facade that a lot of people failed to see.
When I was dressed, he took my hand and sat me down on a couch in front of the mirror and took a seat in front of me. His grey eyes held mine and I knew he’d figured out what was happening to me. “Who do I have to kill for this sweetling?” He asked in a gentle yet steady voice, telling me that he’d back me up no matter the consequences.
“Nobody.” I told him in a small voice, lowering my gaze to my free hand that was lying on my lap. My eyes were clouding over and no matter how hard I tried; I couldn’t stop myself from shivering.
He placed two fingers under my chin and gently lifted up my face. “I already know what’s wrong with you, but I’d like to hear it from you sweetling. Tell me.”
“I’m pregnant.” And that was it, admitting it out loud snapped the razor thin control I had over myself and I broke down crying.
Robert immediately wrapped me in his arms, comforting me with soothing words and just his presence. And because this was Robert, whom I trusted just as much as I did my parents, I told him everything; from how I met Knight Tyson to how we spent the night together; what happened the next morning, the misunderstanding he had about me and then finding out a month later that I was having Knight’s baby. Robert listened to me carefully, never interrupting but he always had his arms around me, providing me the comfort I needed.
“Did you tell him?” He asked when my sobs had stilled, still rubbing a hand down my back.
“No! I don’t want him to know, I don’t want him anywhere near me! He’s a vile, filthy man who slept with me and recorded it just because he thought I had leaked those photos. I don’t want him to think that I got pregnant because I wanted his money.” I sobbed. “Please Robert; promise me you won’t tell anyone.”
“You don’t have to ask little one, you know I won’t tell anyone. But what are you going to do about the baby? Have you thought it through?” He asked gently.
“No,” I shook my head, moving out of his embrace and wiping away tears with the back of my hands. “I’m scared Robert. I don’t want to be a mother yet, I’m only twenty three. I not ready for that. But what can I do, Robert? Whenever I think about an abortion…I just can’t do it. I just can’t be that cruel.”
“I know sweetling, I know.” He patted my head before leaning back in his chair. “Now, I know it’s dangerous for you to stress too much so I’d request you to join in on the banquet…if you can handle the food that is.” He looked concerned at the end.
I managed to form a smile. “I can, I’ll go with you. Thank you Robert, for everything. Can you do me one huge favor?”
“Anything sweetling, you just need to ask.” He said sincerely.
“Can you arrange an art exhibition for me?”
Chapter 4: A New LifeElena’s P.O.V:“An art exhibition?” Robert asked, brows drawn.This time I actually blushed. “Remember when you told me never to relieve the stress of being in the industry with alcohol or drugs?” I continued when he nodded. “Well…I took your advice and started painting instead.”“That’s great news Elain! Why did you never tell me about this?” He asked with a wide smile.“I just wanted it to be a secret identity…you know.” I fumbled with the jacket sleeves. “I’ve actually been selling those online and they sell pretty well too.”“Well, how about I send Helena over to see the pictures? It’d be suspicious if I went to your apartment so it’ll be better if Helena goes in my place. She can give me her review about your work and then I’ll give you my final word
Chapter 5: Coming DangerElena’s P.O.V:The next morning, I woke up to the sound of the bell going off over and over again.Groaning, I reluctantly got up from my bed and padded over to the door in my slippers so that I don’t accidentally step on a glass shard. But as soon as I opened the door to Helena Hugh, Robert’s wife, I hunched over as nausea hit me full force and ran to the bathroom, leaving Helena worried and startled on the other side of the door.“Elain!” I heard Helena standing by the bathroom door an instant later, and then she was pulling my hair back from my face as I pucked out guts.“I’m sorry.” I told her when my gut stopped wrenching, my back to the toilet and my head in my hands. “You shouldn’t have had to see that.”“What nonsense are you talking about?” She chided me good naturedly as she wet a washcloth and da
Chapter 6: Something UnexpectedKnight’s P.O.V:“What is the meaning of this?” I felt something flying towards my head so I lifted one hand and caught it just before it hit me and placed, what I assumed to be a newspaper, beside me on the bed.Then I opened my eyes a fraction to look up at Keena’s fuming face and then closed them again. “Morning sissy.” I murmured under my breath.Suddenly, my covers were ripped away from my body and a glass of ice cold water was thrown on to my face.“What the Hell Keena!” I sat up so fast I felt my head spin, but my glare was directed at my younger sister standing at the foot of my bed, her expression equally bone melting.“Oh no, don’t you dare ‘what the Hell’ me! Do you have any idea what you’re doing? How your mistakes are ruining the image of the entire family?” Keena, Kareena Tyson Mil
Chapter 7: ComplicationsElena’s P.O.V:Lara, as Dr. Johnson insisted I call her, applied a bit of gel on my stomach, which still looked normal even though I was about three months pregnant. But when I’d told Lara about my concern, she simply smiled and told me that my tummy wouldn’t be that noticeable until I was about five months pregnant.“Just relax honey; you’ll be able to see your baby in a little while.” Lara said as she used the probe on my lower abdomen to find the right spot. It didn’t take long before an image appeared on the screen and Lara turned the computer slightly in my direction and there it was! My baby!I felt tears well up in my eyes at the sight of the tiny bundle that looked more alien than human. “It’s so tiny!” I whispered to Helena, who was standing right beside me, holding on to my hand tightly.“Of course it is,&rdqu
Chapter 8: This is ItElena’s P.O.V:The second his lips touched mine, all thoughts vanished and electricity poured into my veins.One of Knight’s hands were fisted in my hair while the other was around my waist, molding me to his body. For an instant, I forgot everything around me. The only thing running through my mind as he parted my lips to put his tongue inside my mouth, was that this felt right. A sense of belonging washed over me, a sudden peacefulness that had been absent in my life for…for the past three months…I wrenched myself back from the kiss and at the same time pushed him back with all the strength I had. It was only when I tasted the iron in my mouth that I noticed that I’d bitten his tongue hard enough to draw blood. Good. It was a very small price to pay for everything he did to me.Knight stumbled back, his eyes wide as he looked at me as if he was still in a daz
Chapter 9: RevelationKnight’s P.O.V:I watched over Elena for the rest of the evening. She was dazzling onstage. Everyone seemed to be enchanted by her; the staff, the judges and even the students. She walked the stage like she owned it, yet, her face radiant, her skin glowing. I even saw a few of the male teachers looking at her with interest.I curled my hands into fists. No one was getting near her on my watch! Elaine might think that the conversation we had was enough to drive me away, but it wasn’t. Now I knew she wasn’t responsible for that photograph and it just made me want her even more. And I wanted her back in my life, in my bed, by any means possible.Elaine walked another round on the stage and then she turned back, disappearing behind the stage. I knew this was supposed to be a break for her so the students could ask her tips and get ready for their walk. I took the opportunity to get up f
Chapter 10: Unconventional DemandsElena’s P.O.V:“Marry me, Elena.”I stared at the man in bewilderment. Did he really just say what I think he just said? Did he just ask me to marry him? Right out of the blue?“Are you out of your mind!” I yelled at him, rising from the chair and backing away from him as far as I could. “We don’t even know each other!”“We don’t need to,” he had the audacity of saying as he too rose from the ground and stood facing me. “That’s my child you’re carrying, Elena. My heir. If you want to take my child away from me, don’t expect me to just stand there and watch it happen. I will fight for my child’s custody if it comes down to that. But marriage gives us equal claim over our child.”Fight for custody? He had no idea that if it did come down to that, I’ll fin fair and squar
Chapter 11: Bonds of FamilyKnight’s P.O.V:“You mind explaining what’s going on?” I asked Robert, feeling helpless in a way I couldn’t even explain to myself.Elena was having a baby. My baby! I was about to become a father! And I only just found out about it. Dear God! Has Elena been sick this whole time? Did she have to deal with this every day? Keena doesn’t get this sick, then why Elena?Robert sighed audibly. “Look, Knight,” he gave me a stern look. “When I gave you a hint about Elain’s pregnancy, I did it because no matter how awful you’ve been as a man, right now, Elain needs someone to look after her and the baby. I’ve already lost my child, so I didn’t want a child losing its father even before it’s born. But that was all before I heard the word complications.”My heart sank. “What complications?”